Indiana to Host North Carolina in Oct. 18 Preseason Exhibition at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
With recent NCAA rule changes enabling more high-profile tune-up games, the matchup will double as Michael Malone's first game leading the Tar Heels.
Overview
- Indiana announced a preseason exhibition with North Carolina for Oct. 18 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse and said tickets will go on sale this week while tipoff time and TV details are still to be released.
- North Carolina arrives under new coach Michael Malone, the former Denver Nuggets coach who has remade much of the roster through the transfer portal since his April hire.
- The NCAA has eased limits on preseason Division I matchups, a change that has prompted more programs to schedule marquee exhibitions to sharpen their teams and raise exposure.
- Indiana has used such games recently, beating Tennessee in 2023 and Baylor at Gainbridge last season, and the program sees this matchup as a competitive tune-up against a storied opponent.
- The teams have a long history, with Indiana holding the edge in the series and the Hoosiers winning the most recent meeting in 2022, and the game could affect recruiting interest, ticket revenue, and early-season perceptions for both squads.